Youth groups join to perform 'Passion Play'

Youth groups from First United Methodist Church and Zion United Methodist Church are teaming up to present the Easter story according to the Bible.

"Passion Play" is performed every three years, according to First United Methodist Pastor Larry Brown, who is also directing the play. The story, which is based off the Gospel of John, begins at Palm Sunday and ends following the resurrection.

For this time around, he said he wanted to have teens and middle school students take part in order to gel the groups together, called Community Youth Vision Team.

"My hope was it would unify the groups," said Brown.

He added there are a variety of ages represented in the story and those who have and have not grown up in the church.

"It's a teachable moment. I'm hoping they'll want to learn more about what happened," Brown said.

He said he expects the actors will become impacted by the story as they perform before an audience and see how attendees react to the story and crucial scenes including The Last Supper, Garden of Gethsemane and The Crucifixion.

By bringing the youth groups together, Brown said he would like to see it start a movement to bring the youth together across the Ionia community.

The performances will take place Sunday and Monday at 7 p.m. In addition, the performance is scheduled for the Good Friday service at First United Methodist Church, and it will end following the burial of Christ. A free-will offering will be taken, which will benefit the Community Youth Vision Team ministry.

First United Methodist Church is located at 105 E. Main St.

Follow Karin Armbruster on Twitter @ISSKarin

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